Wings' second line has yet to mesh offensively

TRAVERSE CITY – Members of the Wings’ second line know it’s going to take some time to find chemistry.

The question is how much time will coach Mike Babcock give them to do so.

After three intra-squad scrimmages the line of Daniel Alfredsson, Johan Franzen and Stephen Weiss have generated little offense.

“Mule, Alfredsson and Weiss still are a wok-in-progress,” Babcock said after the team’s annual Red & White scrimmage to close training camp. “I might need to change that around. We’ll know that in a little while, for sure. We have a lot of players and we have to play 40 guys over the first two games and then at that time I’ll know a little bit more.”

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The line accounted for one goal over those three games.

“They’ve got to be better than that,” Babcock said.

Alfredsson and Weiss were Detroit’s two major free agency signings.

Alfredsson, 40, is one of the more creative wingers in the league and still has a fantastic shot.

“I don’t think we’ve lit anything on fire so far,” Alfredsson said. “It’s just a process. I’m sure with a few new people, and for the coaching staff as well, (we’re) just seeing where everyone fits in.”

Weiss was the playmaking center the Wings coveted when Valtteri Filppula priced himself out of their plans.

“They’re really great players so it’s not that difficult, but trying to do it in a new system can be a little bit tough at times especially playing against your own teammates that know exactly where you’re going and what you’re trying to do,” Weiss said. “We’ll get better as we go here.”

The club was hoping those two would help Franzen become a more consistent offensive threat.

“I look to run the offense,” Weiss said. “Whether that’s driving the middle and kicking it out and going to the net or being the shooter or whatever. We have to score some goals and help out the top guys that way. Whether that’s 5-on-5 or power play, we have to find a way to be productive offensively.”

The line will get their first chance against another team Tuesday in Chicago.

Vote of confidence

Wings general manager Ken Holland gave Tomas Tatar the vote of confidence he was looking for.

“Tats is going to be on the team,” Holland said. “It’s an important preseason for a guy like Tats because there’s a lot of depth. We’ve got decisions to make, but he’ll probably be one of the guys that’s one of the 14 left standing because he’s young, there’s upside potential. I like Tats. He plays hard and he goes to the hard areas. He wants the puck, he wants to score.”

Tatar, 22, is one of 17 forwards trying to earn a spot out of camp. Detroit plans to carry 14 forwards on its roster.

Tatar was named the American Hockey League playoff MVP after scoring 16 goals to go with five assists in 24 games to lead Grand Rapids to the Calder Cup.

“I think he’s been very good in training camp,” Holland said. “He played 18 games for us last year and scored four goals. That’s a 16-18 goal pace playing on the third line and not getting much specialty team. That’s a lot of goals.”

Babcock also felt Tatar had a good camp.

“I don’t think he has a chip on his shoulder, I just think he can count,” Babcock said. “I thought he’s been really good every single day, but to me that’s not a chip. He can do the math. He wants to play and I don’t blame him.”

Tatar is also out of minor league options which means the Wings would have to expose him to waivers where he more than likely claimed by any NHL team.

“I would expect to be traded if I won’t make the team,” Tatar said. “I’m going to do my best to be here, but it’s a business. You never know. They might get some offer and have to accept it. They have so many forwards.”

This and that

Holland had no update on Darren Helm (groin/back), who has yet to take the ice in Traverse City. “No one’s said anything to me,” he said. “We’re just waiting a period of time.” … White beat Red in the intra-squad scrimmage, 4-3 in a shootout (3-2). The Red team got regulation goals from Justin Abdelkader, Jakub Kindl, while the White team had tallies from Ryan Sproul, Xavier Ouellet and Patrick Eaves. “I thought Sproul was real good,” Babcock said. “I thought the tempo in the first half of the game was pretty good. I thought it fell off, but at least it gave you a chance to evaluate some of the players.”

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